Actively Imagining Sailing Vessel Delos
You may recall that in Better or Worse Off? (Part 2) I mentioned there might still be a place for YouTube—or perhaps podcasts—in my life someday.
Today I want to explain why, based on another experience I had at the IASD Annual Conference in Ashland, Oregon.
Going back to the active imagination workshop I discussed in yesterday’s post (Hot Dogs, Applesauce, and Butterflies), I used one of the exercises as an opportunity to check in on my North Star—my life path—and see how I might stay aligned with it.
I don’t remember the exact form of the exercise, but I remember the outcome very clearly.
Three symbols emerged:
A white goose
A white light rising from the depths of the deep blue ocean
A sailboat that appeared when the light reached the surface
Over the last couple of days I’ve spent time reflecting on what those symbols might be pointing toward.
Encore Career Interpretation
From the perspective of building an encore career as a Traveling Troubadour, the symbols seemed to describe a process of self-actualization.
The white goose was being held by a female figure, whom I understood as representing the Anima in Jungian psychology—the feminine dimension of the psyche.
The goose seemed to symbolize my music being held and protected by an inner knowing before it is fully released into the outer world.
The white light rising from the ocean depths represents my creative works of music moving upward into consciousness—coming into the light of day and being shared with others, as I’ve begun doing more consistently over the past year and this summer.
The sailboat seems to represent my plan to visit the 7C’s this summer.
I’m not traveling by sailboat, of course, but every town I’ve been playing is connected to the water. They’re what I’ve started calling my Ports of Calling.
So far I’ve visited:
Bellingham
Kingston
Manchester
Port Orchard
I’ll be returning to each of them, and I expect to add at least three more ports to complete this summer’s 7C’s tour.
That interpretation felt true to me.
It forms what I would consider a “good” personal myth—a narrative of encouragement that seems to fit where I currently am on my journey.
But It Also Says Something About Highway to Yeah
As I reflected further, I realized these symbols also describe what this blog is really about.
The White Goose
In folklore, a white goose often symbolizes new beginnings.
That’s exactly what getting out on your own Highway to Yeah is about.
It marks the beginning of a heroic journey—the movement from an identity that no longer fits toward becoming the truest version of yourself.
It also represents gaining clarity about what matters most: your deepest values, dreams, and aspirations—and then actually aligning your life with them.
To me, the white goose symbolizes radical integrity.
Light From the Depths
This one is almost self-explanatory.
It represents bringing into consciousness what already exists within you. Your personhood. (See the earlier Decluttering Personhood post).
Whether that’s discovering the existential capacities you didn’t realize you possessed, receiving guidance through dreams and imagination at the relatively unconscious level of personhood, or recognizing the habits that quietly shape your character, the movement is always seems to be the same:
From depth…
to awareness.
It symbolizes awakening to the possibilities that emerge when you intentionally redesign your life around your deepest values.
It is a symbol of unadulterated authenticity.
A life where you are able to see through the illusions, politics, and superficiality that make up so much of a day-to-day existence. You strip away your masks, your personas, and you live from your depths of inner truth.
The Sailboat
A sailboat moves with flow, not force. It is aligned with reality and does not force. You reduce the friction and sail with the winds. That is a big part of the “minimalist” ideas behind Zeroscaping (see Zeroscaping: The Road Ahead).
It represents the freedom you develop to define and live your own version of a Highway to Yeah.
You are the captain of your vessel. You have agency to go where you want as long as you stay in alignment with the conditions you find yourself immersed.
It is a symbol of the journey you will embark upon. The mission(s) you seek to realize.
It is a symbol of freedom, self-reliance, and adventure, all rolled up together.
I find it fascinating how much the psyche can communicate through symbols.
Which brings me to Sailing Vessel Delos.
Long before this exercise, Delos had already claimed the “sailing” real estate in my imagination.
When that sailboat rose out of the ocean, Delos was immediately what came to mind.
Their journey has always been about three things:
Escaping cubicle hell (the working for a paycheck kind of hell discussed in this blog)
Learn the craft of sailing so that they could literally sail around the world.
Have fun and exciting adventures along the way, and share them with their subscribers, patrons, and a 1,000 true fan community.
And they’ve accomplished all three.
Sometimes their videos make the lifestyle look effortless.
But, I don’t think so. It’s harder than it looks, folks.
It was never a cake walk for them. It was a journey filled with doubts, fears, set backs, heart breaks, and tough decisions.
One thing the show also beautifully demonstrates is what it means to be truly nomadic. It involves a lack of belonging, anywhere, except where you find yourself.
They were always moving on to the next destination. Their community was largely online, somewhat impersonal, until they started converting their virtual community into an IRL community through their various in person get togethers and guest “apprentice crew” sailing program.
Plus, they have had to keep the lights on and the engine going on the “business” of YouTube in order to fund the lifestyle.
In fact, I believe they refer to the Delos enterprise as a “lifestyle” business. It is not making them rich. But they do a great job, work hard at it, and have been very innovative in the YouTube space. Their “buy us a beer” campaign was brilliant and has influenced many an influencer want to be.
Why Delos Matters to Me
I bring Delos up for two reasons.
First, when that sailboat emerged from the light beneath the ocean, Delos was the very first association that appeared in my mind.
Second, becoming a creator rather than merely a consumer is about the only circumstance where I can imagine intentionally returning to YouTube after completing this year away from the algorithm.
I don’t ever want to fall back into passive consumption.
I have too many more important things I want to do.
Even recreationally, I think life will be richer.
Just over the past couple of days I’ve finished the second half of a book I started back in March.
In two days, I read as many pages as I had during the previous four months.
That alone tells me something.
This One Hit Wonder may already be working.
So…
Bravo to Delos.
And bravo to you as you discover your own white goose, your own rising light, and your own vessel.
May they carry you toward your version of a Highway to Yeah.